belden



E. H. BELDEN.

STEERING MECHANISIVI.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1918.

PatentedDec. 2,1919.

E. H. BELDEN.

STEERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.6.1918.

Patented Deo. 2, 1919.

a Suva/nto@ Edward e/aen PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD n. BELDEN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, AssIC'NOR To INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Application id vMarch e,

.To all whom t may Concern Be it known that I, 'EDWARD H. vBELDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and 'State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism, ,of which I declare the Jfollowing to be a full, clear, and eXa'ct description.

This invention relates to improvements in the steering mechanism of motor vehicles.

The principal-.object of this invention is to provide animproved, compact and simple housing for the gearing connecting the steering post and the steering arm.

A further object of this invention is to provide a casing mounted'upon the engine crank caseand inclosing the 'gearing connecting vthe steering post and the steering arm, said casing being so mounted that the steering post may be inserted in place and the casing afterward adjusted so as to give the proper angle to the casing dependent upon the inclinationof the' steering post.

A further object Ofmy invention is lto provide an improved arrangement of the gearing'connecting the steering post and the steering arm, of such a-nature as to facilitate the lubrication of the steering arm spindle.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from' the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish -theobjects'of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. 5 clearly defined and pended claims. Y Y v. .v l

A structure constituting a preferred empointed out inthe apbodiment of'lmy inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is -a sectional, elevational View of steering mechanism embodying my inven-4 tion, taken substantially on the line I I of Fig. II. 'f A Fig. IL is a detail, sectional View, taken subsi-maaliy on the une II' II of Fig. I..

Fig. III is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view corresponding to a part of Fig. II, the steering spindle being shown in longitudinal Sectio A F ig. IV is Aa fragmentary, detail', sectional Specification of Letters Patent.

1918. Serial No. 220,757.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

View, taken substantially onthe line `I'V-IV 'l and L Fig. VII is a detail, sectional. view, taken j substantially on the line VII-'VII of Fig. V.v

In the drawing, similarreference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional -views are taken looking in the direction of .thelittle arrows at the ends of the section. lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, I have shown the engine crank case 10 provided wi-th a vertical wall 11 in which there is the opening'12, as sho-wn in Fig. IIl ofthe drawing.' .A plurality of bosses 13 are also provided, arranged on the inner side Of'rwall 11 at equal distances l from the center of the opening 12. A

bracket 14: is secured against the outer face of -the .wall 11 by means of bolts 15, said =bracket having a-ce-ntral sleeve 16, the end of which is mounted in the opening 12, vsaid sleeve 16.2bein'g'braced lby the flanges 17 extending toward the slee-ve from the base of the bracket 14:.` A Casing'lS .is provided having a boss 19 'and a portion 2O which is inclined at an angleto the axis of the casing 18,- as clearly shown yin Fig, I. The casing 18 is also provided with a peripheral fiange 21v which engages the bracket 14 'attached totheside 11 of the crank case. The flange-21 is provided with a plurality of slots 22 concentric with the cenlterrof the casing 18 and of the bracket 14, and -bolts 23 pass through said lslots 22 and through openings in the'bracket 14 and in t e wall 11 of the crank case. The nuts 24pm the bolts 23 v'are disposed within the lbosses 13 formed on the inner side ofthe wall 11 of the crank oase 10.

The steering arm 25 is provided with a spindle at its 'upper end having an inner and larger portion 26, an ouiter and smaller 27. sleeve 29 is mounted in the boss around the portion 26 of the steering arm portion 28 ofthe spindle, being secured and provided with a` radiating flange 30 which engages the inner end of the boss 19;

A worn'1-31 is' mounted von fthe intermediate theretov by means of a, spline 32.v A sleeve 33 is mounted in the sleeve or boss 16 eX- sleeve 33 .is lield in place onthe spindle 27 by means of a. nut 35 and the end of thespindle.

The spindle 'of the steering arm 'isz'pros the crankcase .through the 'opening-12, so that the lubricating-'oil -from the inside vof the crank case 4ii'nds its' way -into'the passage.

'casingis clo'sedby thecap-40 whichi'is held..v mjplace thereon by means of fthe-bolts14l 30- abuts the lower end ofthe worm.-43.' "The" 37 and is 'fed from; said; passage throughthe passages 38 and'39jto the sleeves .32and '29 whlch arelubricatedthereby.

' The lower :end ofthe portion' .2 0of-v the and -supports the thrustbea'rings 42; which thrust.' bearing 44 i's'provided. 'at `the: upper '.'end `o the steering post is threaded'at"f52..j i and has a nut' screwed 'f shereon,l abutting j lower end "oftheworm43 togfhold theAv 'Weirm nd'post 'in driving engagement The In Figs. V,' V]Ian d slightly'inod'i'ed construction. j The bracket;

' f 55v'is. secu-'redtothewall 11 o f -thecrank' case 101by. means o fgb'olts 56'. The bracket v has'a laterally projecting; pin57 with an casing. 59. has the portion. ojinclinedat an angle andreceivingfthe lvworm, 'and'jthehub orbos'sportion 61,-.and also" ha's a project? a washer 36 on 'vn'. 'have rows a:

messia ingl boss .62 having a semi-cylindrical lseat adapted to receive the pin 57. A cap 63 is secured to the boss 62 by means of bolts 64 and has a.. seat .mating with the seat in the boss 62, the two together forming a. bearing for the pin 57. A pin 65 Vis provided '1n the boss 62 which fits in the groove 58 and a similar pin 66 isv provided in the cap 63. A cover y67 for the casing 59 is provided and secured thereto by -means of bolts 68. A sleeve 69 projects inwardly from the cover. 67 and a boss 70 projects outwardly vfrom said cover in line with the sleeve 69. steeringarm 71 has a spindle comprising a larger` and inner ortion 72, an intermediate vided with-a longitudinally extendingpassage 37 from.. which cross passages-38 and. l39.'radiate to theoutside of the portions 26v and 27 of 'the' spindle respectively, The end v ofthe passage 37 opens into the interior of naled in the boss61 formed in the casing 59,." and provided with a radiating flange 76 -abuttin the inner end of the boss 61. The

worm. 7 is-mounted on the intermediate `portion 73 of the' spindle, being secured thereto v-by-lneans of a spline v78, and theV 'outerend 74 of the'spindle is journaled in y the sleeve 79,.which isf-mounted the boss '.orlsleeve 69 formed on the cover 67 and "provided with a radiating flange 80 abut- .tingfthe inner end of the boss 469. The sleeve v 791 is held in :place bythe nut 81 and the Washer 82 on theend of the spindle, said v nutand washer-being housed within theboss end of the .worm 43 and a.' sleeve 4 1 5is'dis--. I j `posed in the'v casing 20and holdsthe thrust'- bearing place and said v'vorm.l accurately meshed. 'The worm'43` `as thus heldin place in the portion'20jof the 'casing meshes with 7 0 on the cover67.

casingisclosed by the cap 40-which is held in place by means' of bolts 41 and this cap- 404 supports the thrustbear1ngf42 which' abuts the lower end of the worm 43 which is jou'rnaled in the casing 60` meshing with v the worm gear 77 on the steering arm spindle.: i- A thrust bearin'g\ 44 abuts the upper Send of the worm 43-andis heldin place .by

a sleeve 45 whichis mounted-inthe upper vvend ofthe portion 60v ofthe casing. The 46v hasA an inwardly projectingradiating -'-",il 'ange .49--which engages the top `of the slet-,verA

-f tending through theworm Z13-and having a.. drivin engagement therewith; Thelower'l 15J-means [of a bolt passingthrough the openings147in-,the ears 48 onthe upper end of fthe portionO of the casing, which issplit sogas to 'adaptits'elfto. this clamplng ac- .tion l. The lower end of. the steering column has a radiating ange .49 which abuts thev upper end of theysl'eevel 45 and thus forces l'wormin-place and in driving engagement vit into position'. against the upper end ofi the thrustbearingf .The steering post 50 .is disposed withinl the column 46 and ex- "tendsthrough the worm v43, theportion 51 .fof the'steering post having a driving -en- .gagement' with the worm. The lower end of the" portion 51.is threaded at 52V and a nut" .5.31 is screwed/'thereon vwhich retains the 25 v ening of these boltsV prevents rotation of tlie 30 f 18 in the proper position.' The casing 18 cup or cap 40. This construction is the same as in the preferred form of my device illus- .trated in Figs. I to IV, inclusive.

From` the description given above, the

1 operation of this device should be very readyily understood. In Figs. I to IV, inclusive,

it will be seen that the steering arm spin,- dle is journaled in the casing 18 and the worm gear'31 is splined on the spindle within the casing 18. The worm 43 is also journaled in the portion 20 0f the casing 18 and meshes with the Worm gear. This casing, therefore, forms a compact, unitary housing for the worm gear mounted on the spindle and the worm connecting it with the steering post. Both these parts may be assembledl togetherbefore being applied to the motorA vehicle. The casing 18 is rotatably mounted upon the bracket 14 which is detachably secured to the side of the engine crank case, and the position of the casing withfreference to this bracket may 'bedetermined by means of the bolts 23 passingthrough the concentric slots l22. The tightcasing relative tothe bracket 14 on which --it is mounted. Inoperation the worm gear, the steeringarm, the steering arm spindle and the worm are mounted within the casing is then mounted on the bracket 14 which has been' attached to the side ofthe engine crank case, the bolts 23 being left loose so that the casing 1s free to rotate to a certain extent relative to the bracket 14. The column 46 is then inserted in place in the motor vehicle and its lower end is screwed into the upper end `of the portion 20 of the Acasing 18 and clamped therein by means of the bolt passing through `the openings 47. The fact that -the casing '18 is loosely mountedJ on the bracket 14 so as to rotate thereon, permits of the-rotation of thev casing so as to get the proper inclination of the portion 17 to correspond to the inclination which is given the steering column 46 when it is inserted in the motor vehicle. When the steering column has been inserted in place at the proper angle, the position of the casing 18 relative to the bracketv being then determined, the bolts 23 are tightened up by screwing u the nuts 24 and the casing 18 is thereby he d against movementr or rotation relative to the crank case.' The steering post is then inserted in-the steering column, the ,portion 51 of thev 'steering post passing t-hroughthe worm 43 land having a ldriving engagement therein, and the nut 53 is threaded on the end 5,2 of the steering post and incl'osed within the cap 54 threaded onto the'v end of the cup 40.

It will be seen that the sleeve 16 is in line with the opening 12 in the side of the crank case 11 and the end of the steering arm spindle 27 extends in line with this opening, .so that the passage 37 in the steering arm spindle is open to the crank case. The revolution of thel crankshaft within the crank case creates a splash or'mist of lubricating oil which may pass through the passage 37 v and theports 38 and 39 to the sleeves 29 and-33 which are lubricated thereby.

By referring to Figs. V, VI and VII of the drawing, it will be seen that the form of my device, which I have illustrated in these views, is in many respects similar to the preferred form shown in the' preceding views.

In this form `the steering arm and the steering arm spindle are journaled in a casing, the worm gear 77 is mounted on the spindle within the casing and meshes with the worm 43 which is also journaled within the por-I tion 60 of said casing. The entirecasing is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin l57 which is fixed to the side of the engine crank case,

the lateral movement of said casing relative to said pivot pin being prevented by engagement of the pins 65. vand 66y in the groove 58 of the pin4 57 In' this' form 0f my device' also, thesteeringarm and the steering arm spindle, the worm gear and the worm are i the steering columnin their fixed angular position with reference to the motork vehicle serve to IiX the position-:of the casing 59. so that no additional securing means are necessary to prevent. the rotation of said casing relative to its fixed support. 'I am awarethat the particular embodiment of vmy invention, which I have herel shown and described, is' susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof, and, therefore, I desire to claim my invention broadly, as well as specically', as indicated by the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim'as new -and desire to secure by Let-l ters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing rotatably mounted upon a fixed support, means for holding said d casing against rotation relative to said support, a steering arm having a spindle journaled within said casing substantially concentric with the aXis of rotation of the casing, a'steering post and means for operating the steering arm from the steering` post.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a steering arm having a spindle journaled in said casing, a

fag.

-ing the casing manner as to enable the casing to be rotated xed support, means for rotatably-V supportupon the support in suchv a slightly about the spindle as a center, and a steering post having a driving connection Awith said spindle within said casing.

3. A device of the class described co" prisin-g the combination of a casing roin'- tably mounted on a fixed support; means for holding said casing against rotation relative to said. support; a steering armv having a l spindle journaled within said casing substantially concentric with the axis. of rotation ofthe casing; a worm gear iixed on said spindle within said casingya worm journaled i-n said casing and meshing with said Aworin gear; a steering column having its lower end threaded into a portion of said casing; and a steering post housed-within said column and having a driving engage-l ment with said worm within said casing.

4. A device of the class described, coinvprisin'g the combination with an engine crank case of a casing rotatably mounted on said engine crank case; .a steering arm providedwith a spindle journaled in said casing; a woringear mounted on said spindle within said casing; a worm journaled -in said casing and meshing with said worm gear a steering column having its lower end connected with said casing; and a steering post housed within said column, and having -a driving connection with said worm within said casing.

5; A device of the class described, come rising the combination of an engine crank case ;'a bracket iixed to the side of said crank case; a' casing rotatably mounted on said bracket; means for fixing said casing against I i, arm provided With. a spindle journaled in.

rotation relative to said bracket; a steering saidvcasing; a worm gear fixed on said spindle within said casing; a worm journaled in I said casing and meshing with said worm gear; a steering column having its lower end.

connected'witli said casing; and a steering post housed within said columnand having a driving connection within said worm within said casing.

6. A device of the class described, coniprisi'ng the combination of an engine crank case provided with an openingin the side v thereof; a bracket secured to fthe side of said engine crank case and provided. with an outwardly pro]ecting sleeve in line with said opening; a casing rotatably mounted on said f bracket; means orixing said casing against vrotation relative to `said bracket; anste'ering arm provided with a spindle journaled in said casing, the outer end of said spindle 1 being journaled -in said bracket sleeve;"a worm gear iixed on said spindle within said casing; aworm journaled in said casing and meshing with said gear; a' steering column` having its lower end fixed .to said casing;

' driving engagement umn and having a 'driving connection with said worm within said casing.y

7. A deviceof Athe class described, comprising the combination of aii'engine crank case provided with an opening in the side thereof; a bracket secured tothe side of said engine crank case, and having'an outwardly projecting sleeve in line with said opemng; a casing rotatably mounted' upon said bracket and provided with aflange having av plurality of concentric slots therein, bolts extending through` said slots and said bracket; a steeringA arm provided withI a spindle journaled in said casing, the' outer .and a steering post housed within said colend of said spindle being journaled in said Vbracket sleeve; a worm gear fixed onsaid `spindle within said casing; a worm ]our naled in said casing'and meshing with said gear; a steering column having its low-er end' connected to said casing; vanda steering post housed within said column and Shaving a i with said worin within said casing. 8. A 'device ofthe class'described, coin- Aprising the combination of aneiiginecrank Vsteering arm provided withv a ,spindle jourjnaled in said casing, the outer end of said spindle being joiiinaled in said. sleeve and said spindle being providedy with a longitudinally extending openingk at the outer end ports extending from,the-.outer surface `of said spindle to said longitudinally `extending passage; aworm gear'xe/d on said spindle within said casing; a wormjouriialedwithin of said spindle and a' plurality-of transverse said casing and meshing with: said gear; a' 4 l steering column-having itslower end ixed to said casing; and a steeringjpost housed within said column and having a driving connection with said worm within said casing. i

'9. A deviceof the class described, cornici-.iA

prising the combination with l anV engine crank case of a casing rotatably mounted thereon; means for preventing the rotationl of said casing relative to said* crank case; 120.

a steering arm provided with a spindle journaledv in said-casing; a vworm lgear fixed -on said spindle within said casing, said casing being provided with aportion extending at f lan' .angle with reference to the axis ofl saidcasing; a cupclosing the lower end of saidv portion; a worm mounted within said portion and meshing with said gear, the lower end of said worm being journaled in said -cup v'a'steering'column having its lower end connected to the' upper end of said portion.

of the casing; a steering post housed Within said column and having a driving connec-v tion with said worm within said portion of the casing; and a cap detachably connected to said cup and inclosing the lower end of said steering post. y

l0. A device of the class described, comprising the combination of a fixed support; a casing rotatably mounted thereon; a steering arm provided with a spindle, lthe outer and inner ends of said spindle being journaled in said casing; a worm gear fixed on said spindle within the casing, the axis of the worm gear being substantially concentricl with the axis of rotation of the casing; a worm meshing with said worm gear Within the casing; a steering column connected to the upper end of said casing; and a steering post housed within said column and having a driving connection with said worm within said casing. A

11. A device of the class described, comprising the combination of a fixed support; a casing rotatably mountedthereon, the opposite walls of said casing being'provided with laterally extending sleeves; a steering arm provided with a spindle journaled in said sleeves; a worm gear mounted on said spindle Within said casing and between said sleeves; a worm journaled in said casing and meshing with said gear; a vsteering column having its lower end connected to said casing; and a steering post housed within said column and having a driving cone nection with said worm Within said casing.

12. A steering mechanism for motor vehicles, 'comprising the combination with a fixed support of a casing rotatably mounted on said fixed support; a steering arm provided With a spindle journaled in said casing, the axis of the spindle being substantially concentric With the axis of rotation of the casing; reducing gearing housed within said casing and having a connection with said steering arm spindle; and a steering post extending into said casing and having a driving connection with said reducing gearing.

13. A device of the class describedvcomprising the combination of' acasing rotatably mounted on a fixed support, means for holding said casing against 'rotation relative to said support, a steering arm having a spindle journaled within said casing substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the casing, a worm gear iixed on said spindle within said casing, a Worm journaled in said casing andmeshing With said worm gear, and a steering post having a driving engagement with said Worm Within said casing.

14. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing rotatably mounted on a fixed support, means on said bracket, means for fixing said cas'- ing against rotation relative to said bracket, a steering arm provided with a spindle journaled in said casing, the outer end of said spindle being journaled in said bracket sleeve, and a steering post having a driving connection with said spindle Within said casing. A

16. A device of the class described, comprising the combination of an engine crank case, provided with an opening in the side thereof, a bracket secured to the side of said engine crank case and having an outwardly projecting sleeve in line with sald opening, a casing rotatably mounted upon said bracket and provided With a flange having a plurality of concentric slots therein, bolts extending through said slots` and said bracket, a steering arm provided with a spindle journaled in said casing one end of said spindle being journaled in said bracket sleeve, and a steering post having a drivingconnection with said. spindle within 'said caslng,4

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

EDWARD H. BELDEN. 

